The Premier League season is over and several top stars are facing the prospect of life in the EFL.
Football is a team game and therefore every player associated with Southampton, Leeds and Leicester is responsible for the predicament that their clubs find themselves in.
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That said, certain players are simply far too good to be playing in the Championship.
The relegated trio all have stars who are likely to be back in the Premier League next term, if not, they could be competing in one of Europe’s top divisions.
So who are the players who could have earned a move away? talkSPORT.com takes a look.
Gavin Bazunu is a player who undoubtedly deserves another crack at the Premier League having joined from Manchester City last summer.
At 21 years of age he’s only going to get better and so would be a shrewd addition for any top flight side.
His teammate Tino Livramento is one of the best young righ- backs in the Premier League, but missed most of the 2022/23 campaign through injury.
That said, he certainly doesn’t deserve to be playing in the second tier, something that can also be said for Arnel Bella-Kotchap who is bound to attract attention.
Leicester’s Luke Thomas may also be on the move with the 21-year-old left-back fine performaer for the Foxes at a young age.
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Romeo Lavia is another ex-Man City youngster who has impressed for Southampton this term and with Chelsea reportedly keen, it seems likely that he’ll get a chance to fulfill his undoubted potential at the top level.
Youri Tielemans is certain to leave Leicester with his contract due to expire this summer, meaning that he’ll be playing his football elsewhere, while James Ward-Prowse will also move on.
The Southampton skipper has admirers at Tottenham and West Ham and is set to lead the list of departures on the south coast.
James Maddison will also certainly be heading for the exit door at Leicester, particularly after scoring 10 goals and bagging nine assists in such a hard season for the Foxes.
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Newcastle and Tottenham are said to be keen and the former can offer him Champions League football.
Maddison’s Leicester teammate Harvey Barnes is also wanted with the Magpies and Spurs again interested and a valuation of £40m.
Leeds are already preparing for Jack Harrison to leave the club, with Aston Villa and West Ham interested.
It’s suggested that he has a release clause in his contract, meaning that the creative winger could move on for a cut-price fee.
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He’s likely to join Leeds striker Rodrigo in heading for the exit door.
The 32-year-old striker scored 15 goals for the Whites in all competitions this term and was a standout player in attack at Elland Road.
Given his quality, it seems unlikely that he’ll be lining up in the Championship with a Premier League or LaLiga move potential options.
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